The biggest mistake people make when renovating their home (and how to avoid it!)

Renovating your home? This is the one thing no one warns you about.

Renovations are meant to be exciting - and they are. But if you’ve ever started a project thinking, “How bad can it be?” and ended up feeling completely overwhelmed, you’re not alone.

One of the most common (and most damaging) mistakes I see homeowners make is underestimating just how stressful the process will be.

It’s not just about the dust and disruption - it’s about decision fatigue, emotional burnout, and the sense of chaos that creeps in when you're living through a construction site. And it can completely derail your vision if you’re not ready for it.

This is what “before and after” really looks like. Bricks everywhere, wheelbarrows in the kitchen, and the start of something beautiful.

Let’s break down why this happens, and more importantly, how to avoid it:

The Hidden Stress of Renovating

We all see the Pinterest-perfect images of finished kitchens, spa-like bathrooms, and dream boot rooms. But what no one talks about is the during - the messy middle.

You’re juggling builders, delays, a million micro-decisions, and still trying to live your everyday life. If you have kids, a job, or even just a basic human need for quiet… it can feel like chaos.

Clients often tell me:

“We knew it would be a lot… but not like this.”

Why It Catches People Off Guard

There are a few reasons this mistake is so common:

• TV shows & Instagram make it all look quick and glamorous

• We tend to focus on the vision - not the day-to-day reality

• Renovating isn’t just physical work - it’s emotional labour

  
  

You’re making constant decisions, coordinating schedules, second-guessing your choices, and sometimes even dealing with trades who don’t show up on time. It’s a lot. And when it’s your own home, the pressure is even greater.

How to Renovate Without Losing Your Sanity

Here’s how I help my clients avoid the overwhelm:

1. Plan more than you think you need to

Build in buffers. Delays happen. Changes happen. Giving yourself space in your timeline and your budget keeps things from spiralling.

2. Choose the right support

A good designer (👋) does more than pick paint colours. I hold the vision, manage the moving parts, and act as a buffer between you and the daily chaos.

3. Keep your “why” front and centre

When it all feels a bit much, come back to the goal. Print your moodboard. Look at the layout plan. Visualise that calm, beautiful, finished space.

4. Let go of perfect

Perfection is not the goal - progress is. Renovating is messy, but it’s also where the magic happens. Be flexible, stay open, and trust the process.

Final Thoughts

The stress of renovating is real - but it doesn’t have to derail your dream home. The key is to go in with eyes wide open, plan for the emotional rollercoaster, and choose the right people to guide you through it.

If you’re planning a renovation and want help from someone who’s been through it (many times!) - I’d love to chat.

📩 [Get in touch here] or check out my full-service design offering.